The Emerald Isle Belle
Wednesday 23rd June - Thursday 1st July 2027
A nine-day Midsummer railtour visiting four beautiful locations on the ancient Emerald Isle – all by private steam train with the warmest of Irish hospitality.
2 nights in Donegal | 2 nights in Westport | 3 nights in Killarney | 1 night in Dublin
Our private steam-hauled train offers you the chance to experience the true essence of Ireland - from the charming towns and local delicacies of the Wild Atlantic Coast to the serene surroundings and unique beauty of Ireland’s Lake District, finishing in the buzz of Ireland’s capital.
At each location, you will have the chance to join optional excursions to discover Ireland’s scenery, heritage railways, wildlife and delicious local produce.
Alongside these unique spectacular destinations, you will experience some of the finest available hotels in each travel category Ireland has to offer, as well as our authentically Irish train, including the wood-panelled Guinness Bar and the warmest of Irish welcomes onboard from our partners at The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI).
Our route
Over the course of nine days, our steam-hauled private train will make its way past the verdant peaks and shimmering loughs of the Emerald Isle.
Starting and finishing in Dublin, our 2027 tour will be the first Holiday by Steam for 10 years to visit the enchanting and remote parts of the Northwest of Ireland.
We’ll spend two nights in each of County Donegal and County Mayo before we steam right across Ireland for three nights in the ever-popular Killarney, the gateway to Ireland's Lake District.
After two days of exploring this enthralling area of timeless beauty, The Emerald Isle Belle heads for the tour’s conclusion in Ireland’s fair capital city. Known for being a rich literary treasure as well as a historic powerhouse whilst offering a lively pub culture - it comes as no surprise that it has been named Europe's friendliest city twice by TripAdvisor.
Hotels
We are delighted to be offering some multi-award-winning hotels as part of our Emerald Isle Belle packages. All accommodation has been chosen personally by our team for their combination of service, location, facilities and dining options
Mainline Locomotives
Throughout this tour we will be using the locomotives of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI). Their locos are straight from steam central casting in terms of visual appeal and performance, and the experience has been likened to waking up on the Isle of Sodor, the fictional home of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends!
It is likely that two express steam locomotives will appear on the tour: No.171 "Slieve Gullion", which recently returned to the mainline and "Q" class No.131.
Emerald Isle Belle Tour Activity Level
Level 1: Relaxed
Read the full description on our mobility requirements webpage linked here. These are intended as a guide, and our friendly team are happy to discuss tour suitability with you should you have any further queries.
Please note other levels may apply to excursions and travel connection options.